tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020389.post5944747221786698282..comments2023-07-20T09:00:09.141+01:00Comments on The World according to Merseymike: My article in Liverpool Confidential....Merseymikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07231364271812168188noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020389.post-3250347115998371022008-08-28T11:55:00.000+01:002008-08-28T11:55:00.000+01:00A couple of raw and maybe relevant observations ba...A couple of raw and maybe relevant observations based on a study trip I helped with a few (well more like 5 or 6) years ago to Manchester and Liverpool. We called it 'A Tale of Two Cities' - right dead original title huh?<BR/><BR/>The most important lesson for me was that whilst my native Glasgow had suffered hugely from the whole post 1960 industrial decline scenario, I was gobsmacked by the extent and severity of the decline that Liverpool had gone through.<BR/><BR/>The second striking, and if I'm honest, unexpected lesson, was that many young people congregated in Liverpool at the weekends in preference, repeat in preference, to Manchester. Their consistant message was that Manchester was the scary place especially for young people and minorities with regard to gang trouble(Yardies, were the media's moral panic at that time).<BR/><BR/>A much more subjective impression I had was that there was more of an air of real street-level, just-do-it-man, culture around music, arts and creativity in Liverpool than I sensed in Manchester. Manchester gave off more of an air of being somehow deliberate and professional and self-conscious about it all.<BR/><BR/>I don't know how relevant or verifiable this is but there you are. By the way does anyone know what happened to Prof Greg Lloyd at Liverpool University? Much to the loss of the Scottish regeneration scene he moved to Liverpool University less than a couple of years ago. But when I recently tried to contact him I'm advised he is no longer there... that's now Liverpool's loss but I'd like to re-establish contact with him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com